Fansided

2016 NBA Draft: Pro comparisons for top prospects

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 30, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) defends against a shot by Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) defends against a shot by Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 11
Next

Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke

Best Case: Tracy McGrady
Worst Case: Michael Beasley

Brandon Ingram quickly emerged this year as one of the best scoring wings in the country. The way he easily lifted and fired was reminiscent of some of the great scorers the league has seen. Comparisons to Kevin Durant started to emerge.

Ingram’s 17.3 points per game and a little more than six rebounds per game on 41.0 percent three-point shooting showed a player who could create his own shot and score from multiple places on the floor.

Really at 6-foot-9, he looks less like Durant with his freakishly long arms and athleticism than he does Tracy McGrady. The jumper and his demeanor looks similar to McGrady as well. McGrady was a strong player with long arms who could just score at will, using his size to create space even with a slight frame. Ingram has that kind of scoring ability.

It is hard to find someone who can score 30 points per game. McGrady certainly would be a great realization. Ingram also has considerable defensive potential and whoever selects him in the draft will be looking at him as a potential two-way star.

Ingram though can score and that is always going to be a skill he can rely on. In reality, the question is who his offensive game develops and whether he learns to leverage his size and athleticism. The worse-case scenario would be someone like Michael Beasley — a player with the potential to do a bit of everything but who retreated into a reliance on mid-range jumpers and never really applied himself defensively.

There are big scoring games in Ingram’s future. The question is what else he can add.

To read more about Brandon Ingram, click here.

Next: More than a name

Home/NBA Draft